Vertical stabilizer apparatus for railing systems

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of railing systems are disclosed. One embodiment comprises a horizontal wood deck, first and second vertical wood posts mounted to the wood deck, a horizontal wood hand railing mounted to the posts and over the deck, and a vertical metal stabilizer apparatus. The vertical metal stabilizer apparatus has (a) a plurality of horizontal metal bars, each of the bars having an elongated body with first and second ends mounted to the first and second vertical wood posts, respectively; and (b) a vertical metal stabilizer having an elongated body with first and second ends, the body having a plurality of apertures, each of the apertures receiving a respective one of the bars, the first and second ends having first and second attachment means respectively that secure the stabilizer to the deck and hand railing, respectively.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority to and the benefit of provisional application No. 62/789,003, filed Jan. 7, 2019, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to railing for use in commercial and residential settings as well as interior and exterior settings, for example, to enclose decks, balconies, walkways, stairways, parking structures, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides embodiments of a vertical stabilizer apparatus for use in railing systems, for example, those used on wooden decks. The vertical stabilizer apparatus enables construction of a railing system that is aesthetically pleasing, safe, and less expensive that a typical all wood railing system. The railing system uses a combination of wood and metal elements, as described hereafter and as illustrated in the accompanying figures.

One embodiment, among others, is a railing system, comprising a horizontal wood deck, first and second vertical wood posts mounted to the wood deck, a horizontal wood hand railing mounted to the posts and over the deck, and a vertical metal stabilizer apparatus. The vertical metal stabilizer apparatus has (a) a plurality of horizontal metal bars, each of the bars having an elongated body with first and second ends mounted to the first and second vertical wood posts, respectively; and (b) a vertical metal stabilizer having an elongated body with first and second ends, the body having a plurality of apertures, each of the apertures receiving a respective one of the bars, the first and second ends having first and second attachment means respectively that secure the stabilizer to the deck and hand railing respectively.

Another embodiment, among others, is an apparatus for use as a vertical stabilizer in wood deck railing systems. This apparatus has a metal bar having an elongated body with first and second ends. The elongated body has first and second planar sides spanning between the first and second ends as well as spanning between first and second longitudinal edges. The first longitudinal edge has the plurality of apertures. Each of the apertures has a channel commencing at the first longitudinal edge and extending inwardly and downwardly within a central part of the first and second planar sides. The apparatus further includes first and second tabs extending horizontally outwardly from the respective first and second ends of the longitudinal body of the metal bar. Each of the tabs has at least one hole having a sufficient size and shape to enable passage of a screw or nail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the vertical stabilizer of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B an enlarged partial perspective view of the vertical stabilizer of FIG. 1A, showing an aperture of the vertical stabilizer, the aperture having a periphery that is partially defined by a bendable crimp tip that is crimped in order to impinge upon a part of the outer surface of a respective bar to secure the respective bar in the respective aperture.

FIG. 1C is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the top (or bottom) end of the vertical stabilizer of FIG. 1A, the top end having a hole for receiving a screw or nail for securing the vertical stabilizer to a hand railing (or deck board).

FIG. 2 shows a rear perspective view of a railing system employing the vertical stabilizer apparatus having the vertical stabilizer of FIG. 1 supporting horizontal bars.

FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of a railing system employing the vertical stabilizer apparatus having the vertical stabilizer of FIG. 1 supporting horizontal bars.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in the accompanying figures, the vertical stabilizer apparatus generally includes a vertical stabilizer 10 and a plurality of horizontal bars 12 that mount to the vertical stabilizer 10. In the preferred embodiment, the vertical stabilizer 10 is made of steel and the horizontal bars 12 are also made of steel, for example, ⅜″ rebar. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the vertical stabilizer apparatus is employed in sections between two wooden posts 16, which are typically longer than 3 feet, in order to ensure that the bars 12 do not deflect, or bend.

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, the vertical metal stabilizer 10 has an elongated body 18 having first and second planar sides spanning between first and second ends 18 a, 18 b as well as spanning between first and second longitudinal edges 23 a, 23 b. The elongated body 18 has a plurality of apertures 22. Preferably, the apertures 22 are equally spaced along the length of the vertical stabilizer 10. Each of the apertures 22 is sized to receive and permit passage of a respective one of the bars 12. The apertures 22 commence at the first longitudinal edge 23 a. Each of the apertures 22 has a channel commencing at the first longitudinal edge 23 a and extending inwardly and downwardly within a central part of the first and second planar sides.

In some embodiments, the bars 12 can be spot welded in the L-shaped apertures 22. In other embodiments, the rebar segments can be clipped in the L-shaped apertures 22 with a suitable clip system.

In still other embodiments, the L-shaped apertures associated with the vertical stabilizer 10 are crimped, or bent, inwardly against the bars 12 so that the bars 12 reside and are confined in the lowest parts of the apertures 22 and are each locked in place. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1B, at each aperture 22, a crimp tip 26 is moved inwardly (i.e., to the left) against and partially around the bar so that the bar is entrapped and substantially surrounded by an inner edge of the vertical stabilizer 10. The bending can be accomplished with any suitable tool, such as channel locks style pliers.

The first and second ends 18 a, 18 b of the vertical stabilizer 10 have first and second attachment means respectively that secure the stabilizer 10 to a generally planar horizontal deck 24 and the hand railing 14, respectively. In the preferred embodiment, each attachment means includes a tab 28 extending horizontally outwardly from each one of the ends 18 a, 18 b of the vertical metal stabilizer 10 with a hole 31 and a screw or nail 32 passing through the hole to secure the tab 28 to the deck 24 or hand railing 14. In the preferred embodiment, each tab 28 is at a right angle to the body 18 of the vertical stabilizer 10.

The vertical stabilizer apparatus is easy to install. An unskilled worker slides the rebar through holes in the posts. The vertical stabilizer 10 is then secured to the hand railing 14 and the deck 24 with screws or nails. Finally, the bars 12 are then secured to the vertical stabilizer 10, using one of the methods previously described.

MODIFICATIONS, VARIATIONS, AND ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible non-limiting examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention.

As an example, an alternative embodiment of the vertical stabilizer does not employ the tabs to secure, or attach, the vertical stabilizer to the hand railing and the deck. Instead, both ends of the vertical stabilizer 10 have one or more sharp V-shaped spikes, or barbs), on them that are designed to dig into the wood of the deck and underneath the handrail to keep the stabilizer from sliding around. In the preferred embodiment, each end has two spiked, one on each side, which measures ⅛ inches in vertical length.

This alternative embodiment of the vertical stabilizer apparatus 10 is easy to install. An unskilled worker slides the rebar through holes in the posts. The vertical stabilizer 10 is then clipped onto the middle of the horizontal rebar segments between the posts and then secured by hammering the top of the handrail over the vertical stabilizer, which causes the spikes on the ends of the vertical stabilizer to penetrate the wood at the top and bottom. Finally, the bars 12 are then affixed to the vertical stabilizer, using one of the methods previously described. 

At least the following is claimed:
 1. A railing system, comprising: a generally planar horizontal wood deck; first and second vertical wood posts mounted to the wood deck; a horizontal wood hand railing mounted to the posts and over the deck; and a vertical metal stabilizer apparatus having: a plurality of horizontal metal bars, each of the bars having an elongated body with first and second ends mounted to the first and second vertical wood posts, respectively; and a vertical metal stabilizer having an elongated body with first and second ends, the body having a plurality of apertures, each of the apertures receiving a respective one of the bars, the first and second ends having first and second attachment means respectively that secure the stabilizer to the deck and hand railing respectively.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second attachment means comprises (a) respective first and second tabs extending horizontally outwardly from the respective first and second ends of the vertical metal stabilizer and (b) at least one of screws and nails securing the first and second tabs to the deck and hand railing respectively.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for attaching the bars to the vertical metal stabilizer.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated body of the vertical metal stabilizer has first and second planar sides spanning between the first and second ends as well as spanning between first and second longitudinal edges, the plurality of apertures commencing at the first longitudinal edge, each of the apertures having a channel commencing at the first longitudinal edge and extending inwardly and downwardly within a central part of the first and second planar sides.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the apertures has a periphery that is partially defined by a bendable crimp tip that impinges upon a part of the outer surface of a respective bar to secure the respective bar in the respective aperture.
 6. A railing system, comprising: a horizontal wood deck; first and second vertical wood posts mounted to the wood deck; a horizontal wood hand railing mounted to the posts and over the deck; and a vertical metal stabilizer apparatus having: a plurality of horizontal metal bars, each of the bars having an elongated body with first and second ends mounted to the first and second vertical wood posts, respectively; a vertical metal stabilizer having an elongated body with first and second ends, the body having a plurality of apertures, each of the apertures receiving a respective one of the bars, the first and second ends having first and second attachment means respectively that secure the stabilizer to the deck and hand railing respectively; wherein the elongated body of the vertical metal stabilizer has first and second planar sides spanning between the first and second ends as well as spanning between first and second longitudinal edges, the first longitudinal edge having the plurality of apertures, each of the apertures having a channel commencing at the first longitudinal edge and extending inwardly and downwardly within a central part of the first and second planar sides.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein a part of the elongated body that defines each aperture has been bent inwardly at the first longitudinal edge to impinge upon a respective one of the bars in order to it to the vertical metal stabilizer.
 8. An apparatus for use as a vertical stabilizer in wood deck railing systems, comprising: a metal bar having an elongated body with first and second ends, the elongated body having first and second planar sides spanning between the first and second ends as well as spanning between first and second longitudinal edges, the first longitudinal edge having the plurality of apertures, each of the apertures having a channel commencing at the first longitudinal edge and extending inwardly and downwardly within a central part of the first and second planar sides; first and second tabs extending horizontally outwardly from the respective first and second ends of the longitudinal body of the metal bar; and at least one hole in each of the first and second tabs, the at least one hole having a sufficient size and shape to enable passage of a screw or nail.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a part of the elongated body that defines each aperture is capable of being bent inwardly at the first longitudinal edge in order to confine a part of the channel that extends downwardly. 